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The San Francisco 49ers brought back linebacker Stone Blanton to the practice squad. Blanton signed with the team as an undrafted free agent after the 2025 NFL Draft. He was with the practice squad as recently as October 22, before being released on November 4. Blanton is needed as Tatum Bethune will miss time with a high-ankle sprain. Per the transaction wire, the Niners also worked out two kickers. The team worked out three on Tuesday. Per The Athletic’s Matt Barrows, neither was signed. On Wednesday, Matt Gay and Cade York got their chances, with Eddy Pineiro nursing a Grade 1 hamstring injury. Gay missed six of his 19 attempts with the Washington Commanders this season. The Commanders released him on Monday after he missed two kicks, including the game-winning 56-yard field goal. His other miss was from 51 yards against the Miami Dolphins. Overall, Gay was 4-for-9 this season from 50+ yards. During his career, Gay is 32-for-54 from 50+, but he has been below 50 percent in each of the past two seasons. Washington signed a kicker named Jake Moody from the Chicago Bears’ practice squad to replace Gay. York last kicked with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2024, going 9-for-11 and hitting his lone attempt from 50 yards. He’s 24. York did not kick in 2023. He was a fourth-round draft pick by the Cleveland Browns in 2022, but lasted only one season, as York made 75 percent of his attempts as a rookie. So, the guy who just missed two clutch kicks and is 31, or the 24-year-old who is inexperienced? Update: It’s the guy who just missed two clutch kicks. Gay’s agents told NFL Network’s ‘The Insiders’ that he is signing with the 49ers. It is likely Gay will be signed to the practice squad, given Pineiro has not been placed on IR. To make room for Gay, the team released wide receiver Russell Gage from the practice squad.

While the 49ers will be far from happy with the porous nature of their defense in 2025 — even with a slew of injuries hampering that side of the ball — there will be an internal acceptance that, for Robert Saleh and his group, this season is as much about the development of young players as it is about results. San Francisco’s reliance on the youth movement on defense increased with the injuries to the likes of Nick Bosa and Fred Warner. This is a unit relying hugely on players selected in one of the previous three drafts, with several rookies seeing significant playing time. As such, regardless of what the overall numbers say this season, the 49ers will cling to signs that players who are likely remain prominent features of the defense in coming years are moving in the right direction. And there were some very positive signs from two rookies whom the 49ers hope will develop into foundational pieces on the defensive line as San Francisco thrashed the Arizona Cardinals 41-22 in Week 11. In terms of raw yardage, it was not a good day for the 49er defense, which allowed Jacoby Brissett to complete 47 passes — an NFL record — for 452 yards. Yet the 49ers picked off Brissett twice in a game that saw three Cardinals turnovers and held Arizona to just 36 yards on the ground. Brissett’s extraordinary passing numbers and the meagre rushing production for Arizona were a product of game script, with the Cardinals falling behind early on, and that it was obvious the hosts’ offense could find consistent success throwing on the 49ers. But the 49ers also deserve credit for how they shut down the run — though a 60-yard Bam Knight touchdown run was nullified for holding — with their success owing a great deal to their two rookie defensive tackles. CJ shows out Second-rounder Alfred Collins and fourth-rounder CJ West were each primarily drafted for their run-stopping prowess, each having excelled in college in holding ground against double teams, quickly and violently working off blocks, and finding the football. Both did an excellent job in preventing push from the Arizona offensive line last Sunday, with Collins receiving special praise from George Kittle after the game. “I can’t get over Alfred Collins and his effort on every single play. It’s one of the things that stands out to me the most, but Alfred Collins and justhis effort on every single play. I’m used to watching Bosa and Warner. That’s who I usually watch, but now I just watch the d-line and I’ve just got to pick and choose but Alfred has just stood to me. Just his constant effort of no matter where the ball is he just chases it down and I really appreciate that from a young player.” Yet it was West who stood out the most in run defense up front. West was active for the eighth time this season, getting the nod ahead of Clelin Ferrell and Kevin Givens, and he vindicated that decision. Some really nice work from CJ West against the run.He and Alfred Collins can do the whole immovable object thing very well. pic.twitter.com/o3li0f7Cpq— Nicholas McGee (@nicholasmcgee24) November 18, 2025 Indeed, the former Indiana defender was outstanding when double teamed and dominated his opponent when single blocked, with his effort in pursuit rewarded as he recorded four combined tackles, the most of any 49er defensive lineman in the game and the most for him in his fledgling NFL career to date. Of the 31 defenders with at least 10 run defense snaps this season, West is fourth with a run stop rate of 8.0% per Pro Football Focus. That number is also the highest among all 49er interior defensive linemen. Giving the people what they want, more CJ West!Featuring Malik Mustapha coming downhill like a missile and some nice work from Robert Beal and Jason Pinnock. pic.twitter.com/4lst2smhzE— Nicholas McGee (@nicholasmcgee24) November 19, 2025 He and Collins still have steps to take as pass rushers, though the latter is showing some encouraging signs in that area, but the arrow is…

The San Francisco 49ers are in the driver’s seat after a 41-22 beating of the Arizona Cardinals this past weekend, standing at 7-4 as the No. 7 seed in the playoffs. Up next is the Carolina Panthers on Monday Night Football, with the Cleveland Browns, a bye week, and the Tennessee Titans to follow. Those are three very winnable games, which would put San Francisco at the coveted 10-win mark with three games to go in the regular season. The 49ers are getting key pieces back at the right time, as quarterback Brock Purdy and wide receiver Ricky Pearsall returned against the Cardinals. But, they did also have a few concerns after the win, as kicker Eddy Piniero and linebacker Tatum Bethune both suffered injuries, amongst other players, and are expected to miss some time. Since their 3-0 start to the season, the 49ers have alternated wins and losses in the eight weeks since, going 4-4 during that stretch with consecutive victories. They have a chance to snap that streak this weekend against the Panthers. But, to do so, they’ll need some more production in one key area: pass rush. It’s no secret that the 49ers have had issues rushing the quarterback since losing Nick Bosa to a torn ACL early in the season. Last weekend, the team struggled to get to the quarterback, as Jacoby Brissett was sacked zero times on 57 dropbacks. Part of that was getting the ball out quickly, but San Francisco did allow the Cardinals to get into their territory on seven of the team’s 11 drives. That led to a game with 82 defensive plays, which evidently led to some wearing out at the end of the game. The Cardinals clearly couldn’t capitalize on those opportunities, thanks to three turnovers and a missed field goal, but that won’t always be the case in the future, especially against playoff-caliber teams. A big part of the equation is the balance between keeping things simple defensively, versus throwing a ton of different looks at opposing quarterbacks. Head coach Kyle Shanahan acknowledged the defense struggled with that balance in the losses to the Houston Texans and Los Angeles Rams. Against Arizona, it didn’t come to hurt them because of the hole Arizona put themselves in early. But, the defense will need to find ways to create more pressure because they also get beaten in the secondary. When both of those issues arise concurrently, it’s a problem. The good news is that San Francisco now faces three of the five worst-scoring offenses in the NFL over their next three games, starting with the Panthers. It’ll be a good test to continue developing their young talent, while throwing more at them to continue finding the proper balance. A big part of that also comes with stopping the run effectively, which the 49ers did this weekend. But, the pass defense has also been a concern in losses, and San Francisco needs to see how to affect the quarterback more to improve those metrics.

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year, we ask questions of the most plugged-in Niners fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys. The San Francisco 49ers will look to string together consecutive wins this Monday against the Carolina Panthers for the first time since Weeks 2 and 3. Brock Purdy and Ricky Pearsall returned in Week 11, and the offense, at near full strength, finished Week 11 second in success rate and third in EPA per play. The defense was 16th in EPA per play and 22nd in success rate. Honestly, average is plenty good for that depleted unit. The next three games should allow the defense to build some confidence and regress closer to the mean. The pass rush is what it is. You can see why the team went out and traded for Bryce Huff. He was brought in to complement Nick Bosa. However, losing a former Defensive Player of the Year throws a wrench in your pass rush plans—another shocker. The plan was sound, and you could see how the rookies were each supposed to fit into this defense. Alfred Collins and CJ West were relied on more against the Cardinals, and they were stout against the run. Speaking of, Upton Stout had his weekly explosive play allowed in the passing game, but he was once again a menace against the run. The box score hasn’t been kind to the rookie class, but they are progressing in the right way and gaining valuable experience along the way. If there were ever a time to be down a linebacker, it’s against the Panthers, Browns, and Titans—first Fred Warner, now Tatum Bethune. As you’d expect, Curtis Robinson looked like a player who hadn’t played much. Robert Saleh will need to figure out a way to protect the middle of the field even more without Warner. With all of that said, how confident are you in the 49ers moving forward? Does this team have what it takes to get hot, go on a run, and enter the playoffs as the team nobody wants to play? Or will the defense continue to show its true colors? Please take our survey

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